Sound Wisdom Blog

Eileen Rockwell 9/26/22 Eileen Rockwell 9/26/22

Stay Grounded in the Grind by Alyson Van Hooser

I don’t believe anybody’s true purpose in life is to serve themselves. Instead, I think our purpose is rooted in serving others. We begin a life well-lived, full of meaning, contentment, and no regrets when we use our gifts and calling to achieve success through serving others.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll get wrapped up in “achieving” our purpose—or “doing our job”—and completely lose sight of the object of our purpose—other people.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll get wrapped up in “achieving” our purpose—or “doing our job”—and completely lose sight of the object of our purpose—other people.

The Grind Plays Like This

It usually plays out like this…

We figure out our gifts and line them up with opportunities to serve. For example, I do that through speaking, training, and writing. You may do that through sharing products or services to help others achieve their goals, or teaching others about what you know, or using your gifts to help in someone else’s business, whatever your job or hustle may be…

Then, in order to make sure we do those things well, we make to-do lists of everything we must do. Productivity, right? We start tracking all our daily tasks, steps to accomplish the goal. We make sure we are getting our job done. And in the pursuit of productivity, we miss our purpose. Our priorities get out of balance.

How do you stay grounded to your purpose in the midst of the daily grind at work? Here are three ways.

As you plan your day or week, add these three action items to your to-do list so at week’s end, you’ve done more than work to take care of yourself…instead, your cup will be filled by pouring into others.

1. Celebrate Someone

Celebrating is all about reinforcing who and what is most important. For the person on the receiving end, it feels good to have someone reinforce that they are important. For you, it focuses your mind on selfless actions which creates a much more meaningful existence.

There’s always a reason to celebrate. Holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, of course. But there are also national holidays like National Pizza Day—who wouldn’t love being surprised with free food?! You can celebrate summer break, a professional achievement, or simply just because.

2. Serve Someone

Everyone has hard things they’re dealing with in their life. Pick someone, a coworker, customer, friend, family member—someone you can serve. Then think of a way to serve them. Clean their house, play with their kids so they can go out, mow their yard, make them dinner, plan something fun for them to do, etc.   

Serving others is not about what’s convenient for you. Serving others is about giving them a leg up when they’re struggling. Whether you know them personally or not, who can you help this week?

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3. Strengthen Someone

Empowering others is key to everyone living out their calling. How can you use your words, actions, time, and other resources to strengthen someone else this week? Maybe you make time to stop by someone’s desk to speak life and encouragement into them. It could mean you choose to say “yes” to the person who has asked you to mentor them—it’s your turn to strengthen them with your knowledge. It could be a handwritten note that simply says, “I believe in you.” How can you empower someone to live up to their full potential? Something as simple as that may help someone else turn a corner into a better, brighter future.

Grinding for the Greater Good

When we realize this life is not about me, but about us—helping another to crush their personal goals—we all arrive in a better place. Keep your intentions pure, focus on serving others, and then the grind will be better balanced because you’re serving the greater good.

Alyson Van Hooser is a leadership keynote speaker and trainer on millennials, Gen Z, and women in business. With the grit that comes only from tough experiences, Alyson has learned a thing or two about personal and professional success. From her management experience with Walmart, as an elected city council member, bank manager—all before the age of 30—Alyson has wisdom well beyond her years! Her latest book, coauthored with Phillip Van Hooser, is Accelerate Your Success: 30-Day Journey to Elevate Your Performance & Fuel Your Professional Growth. Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Eileen Rockwell 9/19/22 Eileen Rockwell 9/19/22

This ONE Life Hack Will Absolutely Make Your Life Better by Karen Allen

I mean, we’re all looking for the easiest, fastest, and the most effective way to approach our tasks and our responsibilities, right? We’re all doing our best to simplify our lives and focus on what really matters.
Well, I’ve got a life hack that will instantly make every single aspect of your life better. You ready for it?
Learn how to handle hard, because if you always expect easy, life will always be hard.

Let me tell you, friends, I love a good life hack.

Well, I’ve got a life hack that will instantly make every single aspect of your life better. You ready for it?

Learn how to handle hard, because if you always expect easy, life will always be hard.

I’m just gonna give you a minute to sit with that, friend.

Okay, you back with me? I know that was a serious truth bomb to drop on you.

But seriously, my biggest life hack is investing your energy in learning how to handle hard things. Because when we are prepared for challenges, navigating them becomes so much easier.

I’m not being cynical here. I’m encouraging you to be prepared.

I don’t want you to read this rule and think this means that you should always expect the worst or that you need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

In fact, this is just the opposite of that kind of catastrophizing.

See, when you’re preparing for the worst-case scenario, you’ve got your energy focused on one possible set of negative outcomes. You’re focused on trying to prevent those imaginary scenarios from becoming reality.

That’s wasted energy, friend. Because when that one worst-case doesn’t become reality (and let’s face it, they usually don’t), then all of your planning was wasted.

I don’t want you to waste your energy.

I want you to make a solid investment in honing your skills. Learn how to navigate the hard times so that when they surprise you (and let’s face it, they usually do), you’ll be able to respond effectively to the reality of the situation.

Here’s one way to think about it…

Imagine you’ve got a goal of running a marathon sometime next year. You haven’t made any concrete plans yet, but it’s something that’s on the horizon, and you want to start preparing.

Would you look up every marathon route in your state, then visit each one to check out the finish line so that you can avoid any mistakes in your final sprint?

Would you start tracking the weather for the next 12 months to see whether or not you should train in extreme conditions?

Would you start stocking up on mole skin in case you get a blister the day of the race?

No way, right?

None of that would actually help you prepare for the huge challenge of running 26.2 miles.

In fact, it would distract you from the kind of preparation you really need to do.

Your energy would be much better spent if you used it to work out a training plan or make healthy changes to your diet to support your goals or set up regular massages to help your muscles recover as you ramp up your workouts.

That’s the kind of prep work that will really help you get ready for the challenges you might face on race day, right?

And even if you end up changing your mind about doing a marathon, none of that prep work would really have been wasted. You’ll still have taken steps that would improve your physical and mental health.

So when I say that the best way to make your life easier is to prepare for hard times, I mean start working on the big-picture skills that will help you navigate them, so that no matter what life throws your way, you’ll know that you’re prepared ride that wave.

You know I’m here for productive, positive actions, so here are three strategies to help you build the skills to handle hard (and resources to help get you started with your practice):

Proactively Cultivate Inner Peace

When hard times hit, it’s easy to get caught up in the external turmoil. Knowing how to make inner calm and equanimity your default setting is how you create space from that turmoil and step into a clear mindset before acting.

That may sound like total woo. I mean, who defaults to calm when they’re confronted with overwhelming, frustrating, earth-shattering news? The answer is “the people who practice.”

When life gets hard, I want you to be able to immediately touch base with the peace that resides within you. Because that’s how you respond to hard things most effectively.

Sure, anger, worry, or overwhelm might feel like it’s the natural response to stress. But when things get hard, we need to be able to make our best decisions, and we can do that most effectively when we’re clear-headed.

One great way to cultivate and build that internal calm is meditation. Meditation helps you learn how to shift into that mindset. Practicing regularly at times when you’re not feeling stressed allows you to build the muscle memory you need to do it when life gets hard.

Build Recovery into Your Schedule

I know that most of the people in this beautiful community are high-achievers. We like to do good things well; it’s our default state.

But if we want to bring our best to those meaningful moments—whether that’s a fun project or a world-changing work project—we need to honor what science tells us about how we’re wired.

And the research is very clear—we can’t keep going, going, going indefinitely. Our minds and our bodies will burn out, and that’s never conducive to handling hardship.

We don’t want to face tough times when we’re running on fumes.

We can never know what’s ahead; we don’t have a crystal ball that will tell us what’s on the horizon whether we’re facing a tough day, a tough chapter, or a tough season.

So the best thing we can do is to make sure that we’re getting proactively giving ourselves time to rest so that we’re prepared for those unexpected challenges.

Build rest and recovery into the rhythm of your life so that when that when hard happens, we will have the energy that we need to really face it.

And not only that, learning how to rest will teach us tools that will help us navigate those tough times so that we know when we need to press and when we need to pause.

Know When to Phone a Friend

If anyone struggles with asking for help, it’s your girl right here. Yeap, this girl, the one who is about to tell you how important it is to reach out to your community of support when you need them.

I’m telling you this because I know what a game-changer it is.

Calling in your support network isn’t about dumping your hard stuff on other people. It’s leaning into those who love you.

Because when we feel supported, and when we feel loved, it helps us to stay connected to the good.

The people we love don’t need to carry our burdens for us, and they don’t need to solve our problems. But trusting them to give you the warmth, care, and compassion you need reminds you of the things that are good in your world.

No matter what chaos or pain we’re experiencing, when we reach out to those we love, we remember that there are pockets of love all around us. We get a reminder that the entire world isn’t chaos and pain.

When we practice reaching out to others during the easy times, those connections become a lifeline for us during the hard times.

We can’t control what life will send our way, friends. And that can feel like a scary thing to accept. It can make us feel powerless.

But once you do, you’ll be able to step into your real power. You may not be able to control the world around you, but you have everything you need within you to weather any storm and to rise above.

Karen Allen is a keynote and TEDx speaker, the founder of 100% HumanTM, and author of the book Stop & Shift: The Mindset Reset That Changes Everything, available from Sound Wisdom on September 20, 2022. Karen began her career in human resources and talent acquisition, leading countless training sessions, new processes, and change initiatives. However, at a young age, she suddenly became a widow when her husband was tragically murdered. On the quest to rebuild her life, she discovered healthy habits and lifestyle changes that helped her find her way back to a whole heart and strong mind. Now, she shares practical advice and life-changing strategies that provide tangible results and skills—including her highly acclaimed Stop & Shift method, detailed in her new book—to help people push through the challenges we all face in life and work. This article originally appeared here on karenallen.co and has been edited for inclusion on The Sound Wisdom Blog.

Eileen Rockwell 6/27/22 Eileen Rockwell 6/27/22

What Abandonment Taught Me about Adaptability & Success by Alyson Van Hooser

I learned…

not to give up but to push through.
life is not fair, but you have a chance to flip the script.
choosing positive actions, even when you don’t feel like it, leads to positive results.
the willingness and ability to adapt is the x-factor for success.

I babysat a little girl frequently when I was in middle school. Her parents went into work really early on Saturday mornings. I’d sleep over at their house on Friday night so I could spend Saturday morning playing with their little girl until her parents got off work at lunchtime.

One Friday night, when I was 13, my dad told me I was going to go babysit for them again. Little did I know that would be the last time I ever lived with my dad.

I didn’t hear from him for about six months. When I finally did get a call from him, it wasn’t because he wanted me back. It was because the government was forcing me to move in with someone else and he was calling to deliver the news.

As this new season of life began, I added to the pain of it all. I was a hurt teenager and I reacted by acting out as any hurt child might do. It took me a while to figure out that I was only hurting myself by making choices that could take me further away from where I really wanted to be.

Lesson Learned

It was then that I figured out I needed to acknowledge my feelings instead of acting on them—a lesson that has served me well in my personal and professional life ever since. If I was going to get where I wanted to be, I needed to act differently.

I decided to shift my focus—to adapt in a way that would keep me on the path that would move me forward, not backward. 

In this season, I learned many lessons to make me stronger, smarter, more resilient, and more grounded. And it only solidified my certainty that taking ownership of your actions and reactions is the only way to guarantee your future.

I learned…

not to give up but to push through.

life is not fair, but you have a chance to flip the script. 
choosing positive actions, even when you don’t feel like it, leads to positive results.
the willingness and ability to adapt is the x-factor for success.

Let’s dig deeper into adaptability.

Where Are You Right Now?

When it comes to adaptability, where do you find yourself? Do you live your life to people-please? Or are you dead set on #DoingYou and refuse to adapt at all?

I have to tell you, both ends are dangerous. You risk losing yourself or losing your opportunity. It’s the area in between you need to be aware of and work toward. 

If you believe you should not have to adapt, and everyone should accept you just as you are—you’re likely getting in the way of your own success. If you think acting “in the moment” means staying true to who you are—I say in love—you’re wrong. That mindset can suck all the momentum out of forward progress. If you find yourself there right now, reconsider your approach and consider owning your adaptability skill.

Hear me carefully: adapting does not mean you change who you are at your core. It means, as things happen, you adjust your attitudes and behaviors to make sure you still win. As you adapt, you should never compromise your integrity or your character. You should never act immorally. But if the adapted choice aligns with your core values and is something you can change, do it!

Adaptability Determines Your Results

Most situations in your life will involve other people. And your ability to adapt to different people impacts the results you get.

In order to adapt well, you need to be hyperaware of yourself and the people around you. This means analyzing exactly what you are thinking and feeling; what others are thinking and feeling; and how you can best interact with the person or situation in the moment.

Now, do not misunderstand me. I am not flirting with the idea of manipulating people. First, manipulation has a negative connotation as if someone is losing. I am talking about a win-win for everyone.

But I am talking about taking ownership of how other people treat you. If you want people to act in a way that is positive for you, then you have to adapt the way you interact with them so it is a positive experience for them as well.

It took a painful childhood experience for me to understand the impact adaptability has on achieving success. I don’t want pain to be the teacher for you.

So whether it’s at work, at home, or in your community—regardless of what is happening to you or around you—you control your future. Choosing to adapt is a choice for you, not against you.

You’re adapting your style, not your heart. Make sure you don’t get stuck in an arrogant, ignorant, and defeated place where you think staying true to you means never changing for anyone else. If you take that approach, you might just get stuck never knowing how good you could have had it if you just would have owned it.

Instead, choose to be constantly hyperaware of what is really happening in the minds and hearts of yourself and the people around you—then you will be able to adapt the right way every time. When you learn to adapt correctly, you win.

With the grit that only comes from tough experiences, Alyson Van Hooser has learned a thing or two about personal and professional success. From her management experience with Walmart, as an elected city council member, bank manager—all before the age of 30—Alyson has wisdom well beyond her years! Her podcast, Stake: The Leadership Podcast, offers a fresh perspective on leadership and helps multiple generations successfully work together! Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn and Instagram. And get her latest book, Accelerate Your Success: 30-Day Journey to Elevate Your Performance & Fuel Your Professional Growth (coauthored with Phillip Van Hooser), wherever books are sold!

Eileen Rockwell 8/2/21 Eileen Rockwell 8/2/21

Stay Grounded in the Grind by Alyson Van Hooser

I don’t believe anybody’s true purpose in life is to serve themselves. Instead, I think our purpose is rooted in serving others. We begin a life well lived, full of meaning, contentment, and no regrets when we use our gifts and calling to achieve success through serving others.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll get wrapped up in “achieving” our purpose—or “doing our job”—and completely lose sight of the object of our purpose—other people.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll get wrapped up in “achieving” our purpose—or “doing our job”—and completely lose sight of the object of our purpose—other people.

The Grind Plays Like This

It usually plays out like this…

“In the pursuit of productivity, we miss our purpose.”

How do you stay grounded to your purpose in the midst of the daily grind at work? Here are three ways.

1. Celebrate Someone

There’s always a reason to celebrate—holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, of course. But there are also national holidays like National Pizza Day—who wouldn’t love being surprised with free food?! You can celebrate summer break, a professional achievement, or simply just because.

2. Serve Someone

Everyone has hard things they’re dealing with in their life. Pick someone—a co-worker, customer, friend, family member—someone you can serve. Then think of a way to serve them. Clean their house, play with their kids so they can go out, mow their yard, make them dinner, plan something fun for them to do, etc.     

Serving others is not about what’s convenient for you. Serving others is about giving them a leg up when they’re struggling. Whether you know them personally or not, whom can you help this week?

3. Strengthen Someone

Grinding for the Greater Good

When we realize this life is not about “me” but about “us,” helping another to crush their personal goals, we all arrive in a better place. Keep your intentions pure, focus on serving others, and then the grind will be better balanced because you’re serving the greater good.

Alyson Van Hooser is a leadership keynote speaker and trainer on millennials, Gen Z, and women in business. With the grit that only comes from tough experiences, Alyson has learned a thing or two about personal and professional success. From her management experience with Walmart, as an elected city council member, bank manager—all before the age of 30—Alyson has wisdom well beyond her years! She is the author of Level Up: Elevate Your Game & Crush Your Goals. Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn and Instagram. This article originally appeared here on the Van Hooser Associates Leadership Blog and has been edited for inclusion on the Sound Wisdom Blog.

Eileen Rockwell 12/21/20 Eileen Rockwell 12/21/20

Resolve to Read Every Day in 2021 by Jennifer Janechek

Approximately 1 in 4 adults (27%) made it all the way through 2020 without reading a single book—audiobooks included. To be fair, the year came with unprecedented difficulties. But the benefits of reading are too important to be ignored. Consider the following research-backed perks of reading and make a plan to incorporate reading into your daily routine in 2021.

Better Brain Functioning
Reading strengthens the synapses in your brain, enabling you to think more coherently and more efficiently. It also forms new cognitive pathways, which improves your memory and aids in self-regulation.
Stronger Critical-Thinking Skills
According to Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa in their book Academically Adrift, 75 percent of employers claim that the students they hire out of high school or college lack essential critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Reading and critical thinking are essentially synonymous. As Florida State University Professor of English Robin Goodman says, “Reading is critical thinking and critical thinking is reading.” Even reading for comprehension forces you to evaluate others’ ideas. As you conceptualize, analyze, and assess the information presented in a book, you become more adept at big-picture thinking and think more deeply about the world in which you live. Reading is so integral to building critical-thinking skills that U.S. News & World Report advises adolescents to partake in book clubs prior to entering college.
Enhanced Focus
Ever find yourself struggling to concentrate? The pressure to multitask, combined with the cognitive demands of living in a hypermediated world, has chipped away at our ability to focus. Reading for 15–20 minutes a day draws you into the world of the book, focusing all of your attention on the story or concept being presented. The benefits don’t disappear after you close the book, either. Research has shown that those who read in the morning enjoy enhanced focus (and thus improved productivity) during their workday as well.
Expanded Vocabulary
People who read regularly boast a better vocabulary than those who don’t. Think a bigger vocabulary doesn’t matter? Think again. Vocabulary size impacts various life experiences, from standardized test performance to job opportunities. Beyond signifying intelligence, an expanded vocabulary improves your ability to communicate—to find just the right word for a given situation (as well as to know which words to avoid). Reading provides contextual understanding of words for which other forms of language acquisition don’t provide.
Opportunity for Self-Discovery
Reading forces you to encounter your true self in a way that no other activity does. When you read, you hear your inner voice process the text as well as the thoughts that emerge from it. You have the time and space to explore your interiority and wrestle with questions that promote personal growth.
Increased Empathy and Appreciation for Diversity
Encountering the ideas of others—openly, without judgment—increases your empathy, or your ability not only to understand intellectually what someone else’s experience and perspective might be like (that’s sympathy), but to understand and appreciate it on an emotional level. Reading fiction places you in the shoes of all different types of characters, and reading nonfiction exposes you to ideas and lived experiences that you might not have otherwise considered. The more you read, the more you gain an appreciation for diversity in all its forms.
Reduced Stress and Improved Mental Health
Research has shown that reading for 30 minutes “lower[s] blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress.” Another study claims that reading could reduce stress by up to 68 percent. Reading can also combat depression by fostering connection—yes, even with imaginary worlds and characters. As you escape from your own world (while reading fiction) or imagine yourself in conversation with others (as through nonfiction), you feel less isolated. Moreover, you can discover others whose experiences might resonate with your own and, with the case of personal development books, learn strategies for growth in areas with which you might struggle.
Better Sleep
According to the Mayo Clinic, reading helps you establish a relaxed state that can make sleep easier to come by. Note that for those struggling with sleep, print books might be preferable to screen reading because the light from electronic devices can disrupt the body’s preparation for sleep.
Prolonged Life Expectancy
Reading keeps you mentally stimulated, which can ward off age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Moreover, a study published in Innovation in Aging indicated the presence of other physical benefits as well. According to this study, those who read books live about 2 years longer than non-book readers, and those who read for more than 3.5 hours every week have a 23 percent chance of outliving those who do not read.

All of these benefits are not tied to specific genres of books; each has its own value, so it’s important to incorporate fiction and nonfiction alike into your reading plan. Check out Sound Wisdom’s full list of titles to motivate your personal growth through reading in 2021, and be sure to sign up to receive exclusive offers and notifications about upcoming publications.

Jennifer Janechek is the director of content strategy for Sound Wisdom and the founder of Work–Home–Life, an online magazine and virtual community for remote and hybrid workers, freelancers, digital nomads, and entrepreneurs with home offices. She is also the host of The Sound Wisdom Podcast, which you can watch on the Sound Wisdom YouTube channel or listen to on Anchor or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Eileen Rockwell 11/30/20 Eileen Rockwell 11/30/20

Do It Today: How to Not Let Procrastination Get in Your Way by Adrean Turner

You’ve heard the saying “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” That quote is attributed to Aaron Burr, the vice president of Thomas Jefferson, who’s quoted as saying the opposite: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” That speaks volumes of the differences of these two men.

You’ve heard the saying “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?”  That quote is attributed to Aaron Burr, the vice president of Thomas Jefferson, who’s quoted as saying the opposite: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” That speaks volumes of the differences of these two men.

Unfortunately, at one time or another, we all have responded like Burr when it comes to getting things done. Procrastination is a widely prevalent phenomenon. Research indicates that before the COVID-19 crisis, approximately 20 percent of the adult population and around 50 percent of the student population procrastinate in a consistent and problematic manner, meaning that they experience significant difficulties in their everyday life as a result of their procrastination.

Procrastinating until you’re under the gun used to be my way of getting things done. If I had a deadline of Tuesday, I was up all night Monday plowing through the assignment. I can tell you from my own personal experience that it comes at a great price. The anxiety and stress associated with this type of pressure can be overwhelming and affect other areas of your life.

Timothy Pychyl, a psychology professor at Carleton University, has studied procrastination for more than 19 years. Dr. Pychyl found that the main thing driving procrastination is not avoiding work. It’s avoiding stress.

In the book the The Five Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage, Mel Robbins says, “We procrastinate because we feel stressed out. Here’s the catch…you aren’t stressed about the work. You are stressed out about the bigger stuff: money, relationship problems, or life in general.” Procrastinating over our work is a mini stress break from the bigger stress felt in general.

If you find yourself putting things off and delaying tasks for the future, it’s time to make a change. Try these strategies to procrastinate less and get more done.

Become more aware. The only person you’re fooling is yourself. Stop living in denial. Accept that you are a procrastinator. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to address the issue and work on overcoming it.
Think about what your procrastination is costing you. Is your procrastination putting your job at risk? Do you have a million things to do around the house that just aren’t getting done? If you stop and think about the consequences, it may give you the motivation to work on ways to fix it.
Make a list and prioritize. Sometimes we put things off simply because we don’t want to deal with them. Determine the type of task, the amount of time needed to complete each step, and the required resources to complete the assignment. Then put them in order of importance. Organizing your activities will make it easier to stay on track. Start small and set bigger goals as you gain momentum.
Eliminate distractions. If you are in the middle of a project when the telephone rings or the computer pings, let it wait. Your results are determined by your discipline to stay focused. Turn off the ringer and let others know you’re unavailable.

Keep in mind, these strategies are helpful only if you use them. Start today. Let go of procrastination and say hello to more success in managing your time and tasks. For more tips to get more done and manage your time, watch my video on how to create a success list to accomplish your goals.

Adrean Turner is an author, certified career coach, speaker, professional development trainer, and business consultant. She leverages 23 years of experience in management, marketing, operations, teaching, and training to partner with individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations to achieve their maximum potential. For more information and inspiration from Adrean, read her book F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success. You can follow Adrean on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Eileen Rockwell 3/16/20 Eileen Rockwell 3/16/20

Tips to Conquer Fear and Live Your Best Life by Sharon Lechter

Fear can slip silently into our everyday lives until eventually it leaves us drifting through life in avoidance. Drifting leads to the loss of control of your life. These tips to conquer fear will support you in overcoming what is stopping you from taking action or pursuing your greatest life of contribution and success.

Acknowledge Your Fear

Fear is a natural part of human nature. Fear can also make the difference between succeeding and merely getting by. This can be fear of failure, fear of the unknown, or fear of change—all of which can keep us from becoming as successful as we wish we could be. If you are experiencing fear in your life, it does not make you weak or incapable. Your experience of fear does not define you. Whether you choose to conquer fear is what truly matters. The first step is acknowledging your fear and determining the source. Just like a starting point on a map, once you know what is causing your fear, you can chart a course to address it.

Change/Control What You Can

There are many influences we face each day that are outside of our control. We cannot control the media or the thoughts and actions of others. What we can control is what we choose to expose our minds to and how we react to others. Does your environment consistently feed you negativity and doomsday scenarios or does it feed you possibility? Is your environment creative and does it facilitate exploration of solutions or are you more likely to get mired down in the problems? Do the people you are around focus on all the potential negative outcomes or are their minds open to opportunity? Knowing and controlling what is in your power is an important step to conquer fear.

Be Purposeful with Your Time

Spare time is the breeding ground for fear and worry. Use your spare time to be active; don’t be frozen by fear. By spending your time in physical activity or doing something you love, you will have less time to worry and fret. Productivity is what turns economies and communities around. It also helps to conquer fear.

Believe You Can Conquer Fear

The greatest success stories of our time are of the leaders who took risks, defied the odds, did not stop when hitting their first obstacle, and above all else, conquered their demons. As individuals, we all have the right to put strategies into place that will lead us down a path of success, as long as we identify and conquer fear head on. As business owners and entrepreneurs, we need to maintain the freedom to build free enterprises venturing into uncharted territories in search for innovation that will improve society and create jobs. Then collectively, we will make up a stronger society of independent thinkers who will challenge our political and economic leaders to make decisions not based on fear, but rather on empowering its citizens to reach their full potential.

The Takeaway

Don’t let fear prevent you from living your best life! You never know how close you are to breakthrough…you might be three feet from gold!

A version of this article originally appeared on sharonlechter.com. The long-awaited anniversary edition of Three Feet from Gold, by Sharon Lechter and Dr. Greg Reid, is available on March 17 from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Porchlight Book Company, Google Play, Apple Books, and other fine retailers. This remarkable business allegory tells a fascinating story in presenting the key principles of Napoleon Hill’s revolutionary bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. As you follow a struggling young entrepreneur through a life-changing series of encounters with some of today’s foremost business leaders and inspirational figures, you’ll find encouragement and motivation to believe in yourself, discover your own Personal Success Equation™, and never give up. You are just three feet from gold!

Eileen Rockwell 2/24/20 Eileen Rockwell 2/24/20

Expand Your Comfort Zone by Adrean Turner

Comfort zones can become cages.

I was working on a client project that was a gateway to other awesome opportunities. And quite frankly, I was doing something I’d never done before. Naturally, negative thoughts started to crowd my mind. To fight back, I remembered the last time I experienced something like this. I told myself, “This isn’t your first challenge, and it won’t be the last. You’ve been down this road before, and you always pull through.” And true to form, the right people showed up. I found the proper tools. I learned along the way. Things literally fell into place.

Comfort zones can become cages.

When reaching for greater goals and taking on new challenges remember:

SUCCESS BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Numerous studies http://www.psychologyinspain.com/content/full/2005/full.asp?id=9010 confirm that there are three primary emotions we experience when dealing with change: cynicism, fear, and acceptance. To expand beyond your comfort zone, you have to choose between status quo and growth. Take action and see positive changes in your life and career with these tips. Start small! Big changes are scary. 

MAKE A SMALL CHANGE AND STRETCH A LITTLE FARTHER EACH WEEK

If you’re afraid of heights, look out a second story window. The following week, try the third floor. Several small changes are as effective as a single, larger one. If attending networking events gives you hives, invite one person you’d like to develop a relationship with to join you in a virtual meeting. Perhaps you want to be considered for a promotion, but you are afraid to ask your manager. Start by gathering a list of your accomplishments and speaking to a mentor or coach for advice. You’ll gain confidence one step at a time.

Comfort zones can be cages that limit life experiences. Consider shaking things up a bit by watching and listening to something new. Read a different type of book than you normally would read. Listen to a new type of music. Have you ever had Vietnamese, Korean, or vegan food? Try new foods. If it’s uncomfortable, that’s precisely the point. Learn to deal with a little discomfort.

Get beyond your comfort zone by meditating each evening for a month. Avoid procrastination for a week. Take on a new activity. Have you ever golfed, hiked, or salsa danced? Take a coding class. Recently, I learned to fly drones. It’s been so much fun and I’ve met incredible people who are drone pilots. If you don’t try anything new, you’ll never know what you’ll learn or love.

BUST OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND EXPERIENCE LIFE FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE

A little bravery can expand your opportunities and enlighten your journey. Decide right now on one thing you’ll do to expand your zone, and do it. Remember, you are only one decision away from a completely different life.

Adrean Turner is an author, certified career coach, speaker, professional development trainer, and business consultant. She leverages 23 years of experience in management, marketing, operations, teaching, and training to partner with individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations to achieve their maximum potential. For more information and inspiration from Adrean, read her book F.I.T. for Success: Fearless, Inspired, Transformed for Success. You can follow Adrean on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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